Patients who have rare diseases follow a similar path. It’s a patient journey, with ups and downs, on the way to diagnosis, treatment and all that comes next in life.

Rohit, who has a rare neurological disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), remembers the time before his diagnosis as one of pain and confusion. CIDP causes inflammation of the nerves and can impact a person’s ability to move their arms and legs.

“I was sitting around on the couch and your brain is thinking: What is it? What is it? What is it?” he said.

Rohit was one of four CIDP patients who created paintings that represented different stages in their patient journey. Rohit shared prediagnosis. Other patients used art to express what it’s like to experience diagnosis, treatment and living with CIDP. Many thanks to these patients who generously agreed to share their stories in this collaboration with the GBS/CIDP Foundation of Canada.